# If you don't keep a diary, do you wish you had? And how old are you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328 "2010-11-11T17:23:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/1 "2010-11-11T17:23:42Z")
Whenever people find out I’ve kept a diary every day of my life since my eighth birthday, they are amazed. My standard reply in these situations is “I’ve never met anyone under 30 who wants to keep a diary, and anyone over 50 who doesn’t wish that they had.” So I’m starting this thread to find out if that is really true. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/2 "2010-11-11T17:28:56Z")
Male, 45. No diary. No regrets. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/3 "2010-11-11T23:15:36Z")
Female, 30. Didn’t vote because I only sorta-kinda keep one now (entries are showing gaps of months and up to a year now) and I don’t know if I regret it or not. Maybe I do. I recently re-read the entries at the beginning of the book now that the pages are almost filled, and, manohman. It was _depressing._ And embarassing. Who is this idiot? Why does she keep rambling about stupid problems she brings upon herself? Why does she think she’s so smart when she’s clearly not? (I was around 19 at the beginning of this particular book.) I had forgotten just what a doormat I was during the ill-fated relationship I was in at the time. My own level of denial then was extrafuckingordinary, plus I’ve forgotten a lot of the crap in the ensuing years. I read those pages and thought, “Man. I wasted a lot of my life.” I couldn’t read anymore because I regretted (and regret) being the person I was in those pages. I did, however, confirm my suspicions that growing up with my parents was as craptacular as I remember it being. Worse, in fact - I had the same denial/delusion as with the ex. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/4 "2010-11-12T03:18:59Z")
I think your poll options are messed up Annie. The option for us folks over 50 is the same. Anyway, I’m over 50, female, and I have never kept a diary, not even as a teenager when it was the Thing To Do. I don’t regret it either. Why would I? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/5 "2010-11-12T03:26:40Z")
I kept a journal from around 11 yo until I was probably 17 or 18. Started up again in my early 20’s for a year or so. Then started again in 2000 and have kept one ever since. I don’t write daily. I suppose I would _average_ once a week, but sometimes it’s every day for a while then nothing for a month. I do wish I had been more consistent in writing during the years there are gaps. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/6 "2010-11-12T04:14:09Z")
I’m 33. I’ve never kept one with any regularity, because I’ve found that I just don’t interest myself that much. That’s probably why my blog is about random stuff far more often than personal stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/7 "2010-11-12T04:22:43Z")
I’ve tried several times and it’s never stuck. I know I’ll regret it by the time I’m 50. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/8 "2010-11-12T06:35:28Z")
No. I see no point in providing the prosecution with the evidence they need. I say make 'em work for it. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/9 "2010-11-12T07:10:59Z")
Don’t they call those “blogs” now? ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/10 "2010-11-12T07:40:17Z")
Regret might be a bit strong. I did keep a diary, starting from when I was about 10. Sometime during college I pulled out my old record of my life and thought, “Gah! What a stupid little creep I was,” and I threw them out. I mean, I _shredded_ them and threw them out. I wish I hadn’t done that. On the other hand, maybe if I had the primary source to review, I would make the same decision again, who knows? Cause it’s gone. Maybe it was as bad as I thought. ---
**Author:** ![ramel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ramel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/11 "2010-11-12T08:37:46Z")
I tried a few times to start one, but they only manage to last a few months before I stop using it. Haven’t even tried in probably a decade. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/12 "2010-11-12T09:51:50Z")
I’ve tried a number of times but it never stuck. If things are good, I’m out living life, not writing about it. I haven’t had much good in my life, and I have no desire at all to relive all that pain and heartache, re-reading it at some later date. Plus, for me the purpose of words is to communicate; if I feel strongly enough about something to actually write it down, what I really want is the chance to say it to someone. Just sticking it in a drawer never to see the light of day doesn’t help me at all; as far as I’m concerned, it defeats the purpose – in fact it emphasizes the fact that I can’t say it to [whomever], because if I could I certainly would have instead of hiding it away where no one will ever know about it. Rather than helping, it just makes me feel isolated. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/13 "2010-11-12T14:25:27Z")
Whenever I tried to keep a diary, even when I was 10, it just made me cringingly aware of how inane my life was. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/14 "2010-11-12T14:42:41Z")
I’ve kept a locked LiveJournal since 2002, and I’m really glad I that I have. I love looking back to see what I was doing on the same day in such-and-such a year. It’s also helped me to make peace with some crap in my past; it reminds me of how I was really reacting to situations. I wish I had the same thing going back further. I’m 30 now. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/15 "2010-11-12T15:21:27Z")
I’m 32. I kept a diary all throughout college and a little beyond. Most of the entries were about boy problems and make me sound like a lovesick moron, but I’m still glad I have them. They contain a lot of memories, good and bad, that I would have otherwise forgotten. I don’t keep one anymore, as life is considerably more mundane than it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/16 "2010-11-12T15:29:00Z")
I’ve kept a diary more or less since I could write well enough to do so, though I do tend to have significant gaps. I also have a book I write in for when my kids are older that has information on their families - where they come from, when their parents and grandparents are from, their experiences because they’re so very different - plus stories about them growing up. They may or may not appreciate it when they get older, but it’s good for me. 🙂 Some of the entries I’ll destroy before my kids can get hold of them. They were back from my slightly “looser” days and I’d prefer they don’t read them. Still, I think I’d regret it if I hadn’t kept a diary. Going back to read them sometimes brings back the experience with a richness I don’t think I could achieve without them. Plus, keeping a diary became even more important when I developed my seizure disorder around age 21. I remember most things, but forget some little stories or experiences that have made my life that much more enjoyable. Oops - I almost forgot. I’m 35 today. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/17 "2010-11-12T15:57:20Z")
Over 50. No regrets (an option you haven’t listed, BTW). ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/18 "2010-11-12T16:41:32Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > Oops - I almost forgot. I’m 35 today. Happy birthday OV 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/19 "2010-11-12T17:21:12Z")
Can’t vote, no category that applies to me (over 50, didn’t keep one, no regrets.) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328/20 "2010-11-12T17:41:43Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Over 50. No regrets (an option you haven’t listed, BTW). > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Can’t vote, no category that applies to me (over 50, didn’t keep one, no regrets.) I’ve just edited that option(and voted). Please go back and vote, if you choose. **samclem** MOderator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-keep-a-diary-do-you-wish-you-had-and-how-old-are-you/560328.md?page=2)